earthing switches

[holsten19]

Is it acceptable to put plastic screws in switches when there is no earthing to them to satisfy eicr?

 

[westward10]

Not in my opinion, no.

 

[holsten19]

Wouldnt it be classed as the same as insulated earth lugs? as you cannot get a shock under fault conditions?

 

[westward10]

Not in my opinion, no. The EICR shows the switches as not being earthed so fitting nylon screws doesn't resolve it. Assuming this is a dwelling who is going to monitor the installation to ensure the nylon screws are not replaced with metal?

 

[mainline]

Is it acceptable to put plastic screws in switches when there is no earthing to them to satisfy eicr?

The earth cpc must be securely connected to the back box terminal where a plastic switch is installed. When a metal switch is installed, the earth cable must be connected directly to the switch earth terminal

 

[Simon47]

Assuming this is a dwelling who is going to monitor the installation to ensure the nylon screws are not replaced with metal?

And who is going to monitor for all the other things people can do ? I think that's not a good reason.

 

[westward10]

And who is going to monitor for all the other things people can do ? I think that's not a good reason.

It is as this is like implementing an ad hoc Class II installation.

 

[Simon47]

It is as this is like implementing an ad hoc Class II installation.

So it's OK to use a backbox with isolated lugs - even though the switch and the wiring in the box won't meet the standards for Class II. Plus the user could just replace the switch with a metal.one.
But it's not OK to use plastic screws because the user might replace them with metal ones.
Either both are OK, or neither are. To say one is and the other isn't "because the usr could change something" is being inconsistent.